Receptacle filling machine



Filed Oct. 8, 1949 G. H. DANIELS RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

INVENTOR.

George Danie/5 BY ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1953 G. H. DANIELS 2,656,962

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 By Georgfi Danie/s 0nd ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1953 G. H. DANIELS RECEP'I'ACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 11

Yi/EZMOR.

.1 7. Danie/s 6 BY G orge ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1953 G. H. DANIELS RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Geozpe H Danie/s BY @j c/M,

Oct. 27, 1953 G. H. DANIELS 2,

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1949 a Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

BY George H Daniels 14 T7 ORNE Y Oct. 27, 1953 G. H. DANIELS 2,656,962

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet Ill/ll F /6'. l6 INVENTOR.

BY Georgefi Danie/s Oct. 27, 1953 G. H. DANIELS RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 8, 1949 ENE.

INVENTOR. George H Danie/s )4 7'TORNEY Oct. 27, 1953 G. H. DANIELS RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 8. 1949 T :1 m N m w M "m T m, 7. O

Patented Got. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES rATsNT OFFICE 28 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to inc-- provements in the construction and operation of machines for discharging a. predetermined 111 111? ber of articles into one or more suitable receptacles, and more particularly, to receptaclefilling machines of the type disclosed in my prior application Serial No. M7383, filed Feb. 15, 19%, now Patent No. 2,617,517, of November 11, 1952, in which predetermined numbers of freely movable articles, such as articles shaped as balls, rollers, discs and the lilze, are aut .tically and periodically discharged into a series of receptacles.

In article handling machines of the character described, a series or inclined side-bysside raccways are. formed on a floor inclined at an. angle greater than the angle of repose of the articles to be handled. A feeding mechanism is arranged to supply a row of articles to each or the raceways and a predetermined number of articles is periodically segregated and discharged from all of the raceways simultaneously by alternately. operating stop devices spaced longitudinally of the raceways. The stop operating mechanism is advantageously adjustable to vary the number of articles periodically. segregated in each raceway. The raceways are simultaneously adjustable in width and also in height to accommodate articles of a predetermined range of sizes.

In accordance with the present invention the construction of the machine is simplified and reduced in cost, the operation made more eilicient, and the operating range increased, by an improved construction of the raceways and raceway mechanism, a more effective arrangement for pcsitioning the articles fed to the raceways, an easy and accurate adjustment of the machine for a wide range of receptacle sizes, and a variable automatic control of the number of operating cycles. More specifically, the raceways are defined by one-piece side bars extending the full length thereof and made simultaneously adjustable throughout their lengths to vary the width of the raceways to extremely accurate dimensions. The height of all the raceways is also simultaneously adjustable to an accurate dimension with in a predetermined range. A special article align.- ing construction is provided for the entrance section of the raceways which cooperates with a special rotary kickback throughout the range of raceway width adjustment. The raceways are arranged for single and multiple discharge into a series of receptacles with regulation of the articles discharged from the raceways of each group to avoid clogging in the associated funnel. The

machine is made readily adjustable to fit receptacles of a wide range of heights. Accurate and automatic control of the cyclic. operation of the article discharge mechanism. is provided over the normal range of receptacle capacities.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particu larity in the claims annexed to, and forming a part of this specification. For a better under.- standing of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, ref.- erence should be had to the accompanying draw:- ings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly brokenawayof a tablet bottle filling machine constructed in aegcordance with. my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial plan View taken, at right angles to the sloping machine top;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation through a portion of one of the raceways;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are vertical sections taken on the lines 4-4, 5-5, and 6 5 respectively of Fig. 7 is a transverse section, partly broken away, of a portion of the stop pin release mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a rear view of the kickback mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the kickback mechanism;-

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the raceway width adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the raceway width adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 17 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 11-41 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a, sectional elevation of the control mechanism;

Fig. 19 is an elevation of the control mechanism gearing;

Fig. '20 is an elevation of the control box;

Fig. 21 is a section of the control handle;

Fig. 22 is a wiring diagram of the machine;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged view of part of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the funnel member;

Fig. 25 is a transverse vertical section, similar to Fig. 4, of a modified raceway construction; and

Figs. 26 and 27 are modified raceway constructions.

The tablet bottle filling machine illustrated has a lower stationary housing section H] of rectangular horizontal cross-section formed by suitable vertical corner angle members H connected by horizontal channel bars [2 at their upper and lower ends and closed in by side and end metal panels IS. A horizontal bottle-supporting shelf M is mounted on the front end of the lower housing section by brackets l detachably connected thereto below the top level thereof. The lower housing section serves as the base for an upper vertically adjustable housing section It of rectangular horizontal cross-section formed by suitable vertical and horizontal frame members ll arranged to extend forwardly over the shelf M. The upper housing section is approximately a right triangle in vertical cross-section with its opposite sides covered by substantially triangular metal panels l8 and rear end closed by an access door 19.

Vertical adjustment of the upper housing sec tion It is effected by four pairs of oppositely ar ranged stationary nuts 29 secured on vertically aligned horizontal frame members 2| of the two sections in a rectangular formation. A vertical elevating screw 22 having oppositely threaded sections is mounted in each pair of nuts 23 with a sprocket 23 secured thereon intermediate the threaded sections. The sprockets 23 are connected by an endless chain 24 to provide simultaneous uniform rotation of the four elevating screws. One of the rear screws has a squared upper end to permit its turning with a ratchet wrench 25. Side and end apron plates 26 depend from the upper housing section and closely overlap the lower housing section It] to maintain the housing closed throughout the range of elevating adjustment of the upper section. The described adjustment adapts the machine for a relatively wide range of bottle heights on the shelf [3.

The top of the machine is sloped substantially throughout its length at a predetermined angle dependent upon the angle of repose and desired rate of discharge of the articles to be handled. In the tablet machine illustrated a stationary base plate 30, inclined at an angle of about 25 to the horizontal, is mounted on an inclined supporting frame 3| of the upper housing section it. Floor plate sections 32 are secured to the base plate in longitudinally spaced relation to form longitudinally spaced pairs of parallel transverse slots 33 therebetween in which pairs of adjusting bars 3 and 35 are slideably movable transversely of the base plate. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the floor plate sections 32 have tongued transverse edges fitting into corresponding grooves in the bars 34 and 35 to hold the bars in position in the same plane as the floor plate sections.

The adjusting bars 33 and 35 are connected to corresponding alternate longitudinally extending parallel raceway side bars 43 and ll respectively by screws 42, the side bars having a clearance from the floor plate sections by means of washers 42 on the screws between the connected bars. Each pair of bars 40 and i! cooperates with the floor plate sections to form a tablet raceway 43 therebetween and being movable towards and away from each other to vary the width of the corresponding raceway 43, e. g. a The raceway width is preferably one in which the tablets to be run will have a predetermined side clearance, thus permitting the tablets to roll freely down the raceways and yet preventing adjoining tablets from overlapping and jamming the raceways. The machine is preferably constructed with raceways in multiples of five, only twenty-four being shown.

A simultaneous uniform adjustment of each pair of bars 33, 4! in opposite directions is effected, as shown in Figs. 14, 16 and '17, by form ing a threaded section as, 45 at one end of each bar 34, 35 respectively. The threaded sections extend through openings in a stationary side bar it extending along the housing. Movement of the bars in opposite directions is effected by a pair of internally threaded meshing gears 41, 33 mounted on the threaded sections 44, 35 respectively between the side bar 46 and a bar 49 secured on and extending along the side of the floor plates, so that on rotation of the gears 41, 48, the restriction from lateral movement thereof causes a corresponding sliding movement of the bars 34, 35. A knurled extension 53 or" the gear 41 is radially drilled at arcuately spaced points to permit a pin 5| to be inserted for rotation of the gears. The gear 48 has a hub 48* filling the space to the plate 36. The extent of movement of the adjusting bars is accurately determined by the setting of an adjustable raceway width gauge 53 carried on the threaded end of the bar 35 and arranged to have a tablet positioned thereon relative to an arm 54 carried on the threaded end of the bar 3:2 for determining the proper raceway width. A stop 52 holds the sample tablet in position. Each pair of raceway adjusting bars can thus be accurately adjusted simultaneously to secure the exact width of raceway desired.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the effective height of the raceways 43 is defined by a series of parallel top bars 55 extending above the center lines of the corresponding raceways. The bars are carried by a vertically adjustable rectangular frame 55 removably mounted on the fioor and base plates of the machine through vertical shafts 58 extending through openings 53 in the side bars 49 and plates 32!, 32 at four symmetrically arranged points. Each opening 59 is enlarged at its upper end to receive a collar 63 fixed on the shaft 58, the parts being readily assembled and disassembled by a pivoted clip 3! on the bar 63 engaging the shaft. Each shaft 58 extends through aligned openings in the frame 56 and has a threaded enlargement 32 positioned in a stationary nut 63 welded to the frame 56. A sprocket wheel (i l is keyed on each shaft 58 above the nut 63, the sprocket wheels being connected for simultaneous rotation by an endless chain 35. A pointer 66 carried on a side run of the chain is positioned adjacent a scale til. The scale is mounted on the frame 53 and calibrated to indicate the effective height of the raceways for different positions of the pointer. An extremely fine simultaneous adjustment of the effective height of all of the raceways substantially throughout their length is thus possible.

It is essential to oommerically acceptable op" eration of the machine that all of the raceways in use receive a continuous supply of unbroken tablets. For this purpose, at the upper end of the raceways is arranged a tablet feeding and aligning section, the principal parts of which are a feed hopper, an electro-magnetic vibrator unit and. a. rotary kickback operatively. cooperating with a special construction of the entrance. end of the raceways. A transversely elongated feed hopper m is mounted on the upper end of the machine and divided by vertical division plates into a plurality of side-by-side sections, each in alignment with a group of racevvays. The hopper sections receive a supply of tablets from any suitable source. The tablet supply hopper lb. of downwardly taperin rectangular cross-section and pivotally mounted on a pair of supporting brackets H secured on the upper rear end of the upper housing section. The hopperis open at its top and bottom and has a projecting flange 12 on each side intermediate its height and hinged at its rear end to the supporting brackets. A bolt 13 on each bracket projects through a slot each flange and a pair of nuts M on the bolt at opposite sides of the flange form an adjustable front support for the hopper. A rearwardly inclined shallow spring held vibrator pan id is positioned below and extends beyond the front side of the hopper to a point overhanging upper ends of the racevvays. The pan is spaced belo v the bottom of the hopper and the sides and rear end of the space therebetween closed by a flexible inwardly curving rubber strip carried on the hopper plates and resting on the vibrator pan, thus preventing any tablets in the hopper from being caught between the bottom edges of the hopper and vibrator pan. The forward lower edge of the hopper is provided with a dependingstrip of flexible rubber spaced relative to the vibrator pan sufficiently to permit only a single layer of tablets on their sides to pass therebetween. The vibrator pan is mounted on a conventional vibrating unit Tl carried by the brackets l! and is arranged for high frequency vibration in the plane of the bottom of the pan. The vibrator unit is controlled by an adjustable frequency controller 18 secured to the side of the housing.

The vibrator pan ?5 feeds a continuouslayer of tablets from its forward end on to the entrance section of the raceways which, as shown in Figs. 2, l1 and 12, extends beyond the upper end. of the frame 56 and top bars 55. It is necessary to turn the tablets from their horizontal position leaving the vibrator pan to a vertical or on edge position in the raceways and for this purpose the portions of the raceways in this section are surmounted by a downwardly converging extension formed by an inverted V-shaped formation of four hinged plates 86 connecting the raceway bar 46 of one pair to the bar M of the adjacent pair. Each peak formation is formed by a pair of oppositely inclined plates hingedly connected at their upper edges by a piano type hinge iii. The inclined plates 853 are similarly hinged to the horizontal plates 85! secured to the bars til, ii. With this construction, the peak formations between the raceways will be retained throughout the range of Width adjustment of the raceways, the apex angle varying between about 60 and 90. The hinge pin of the apex hinge is made readily removable to facilitate assembly and disassenibly of the parts. The outermost bars are provided with a half-peak formation with a single inclined plate 88 resting against the adjacent housing side plate 18, as shown in Fig. 11. The tablets passing onto the hinged sections of the bars will normally slide down the inclined plates 88 and assume an upright or on edge position in the raceways.

In operation, it has been found that tablets discharged from the vibrator pan frequently tend to ride over the tops of the tablets inthe raceways, being carried along in a horizontal or cooked position. by the movement of thesubjacent tablets. A rotary. kickback :35. having a special wear resistant construction of the tablet C0119 tacting parts arranged across the entrance section of the race-ways. The kickback consists of a horizontal threaded shaft. 86 extending. across the machine. above. the tablet raceways and cars rying .a seriesof. kickback elements, 8'! thereon corresponding to the number of raceways. As shown in Figs. 11, 12. and,13. each kickbackelemerit consists of a pair of detachably connected washers 88 having a .seriesofradial S8il1irCi1-GU* lar grooves 33. formed in their contacting faces and cooperating to defineangularly spaced radial p-asage into which fit reinforced rubber fingers 99. Each finger is. formed by inserting a tempered coiled wire. spring 9!. intoa tube. 92.0.1? unvulcanized rubber and radial-1y compressing therubber under heat to form a reinforced integral structure. The washers lit are assembled with the ringers, 99 in the radial passages and uniformly projecting beyond the washer periphs ery. The kickback elements so formed are held on the threaded shaft by pairs of nuts; 8 3: at 01?: posite sides thereof, permitting lateral adiusta ment of the kickback elements relative tothc raceways. As shown in Fig. ll, the kickback elfir ments are preferably arranged slightly oii cent'er of the correspondingraceways, so that when the elements are rotated in their normal counter? clockwise direction the fingers will exert successive turning movementson any tablets or above the raccways in a horizontal or inclined position, thus preventing passage of the tablets below the kickback elements until the tablets; are in the normal upright position in the raceway-s. 'At outer sides of the outermost raceways are are ranged. circular brush elements M. on the. kiolra back shaft to prevent any tablets from being jammed against. the side of plate I8 and broken. Such circular brushes howeverhave been found unsuitable as kickback elements and the described angularly spaced reinforced resilient fin gers. of non-marking rubber have proved to be highly effective in preventing the passage of tablets out of normal position. A spring coupling drive. connection, hereinafter described, tothe shaft 83 permits. the kickback shaft to be rotated by hand through a handle on. its opposite end to fill the raceways when the machine is to; be put into service and before starting the drive motor.

As shown in Fig. 12, a curved. shielded is mounted on the upper end of the frame 55 and arranged to extend from the lower rear quadrant of the kickback to a point adjacent the vertical center line thereof to prevent any tablets passing beyond the kickback except when properly: posis tioned in the raceways. It aisobeen found beneficial to extend the raceway top bars Sa to a point correshondingto. the lowermost point of movement ofthe fingers S8,. the upper surface of the bars being cut away along an arcv corresponding to the peripheral arc of movement of the fingers, as shown at $37, to permit the kick.- back fingers to operate with a minimum clearance with the top of the tablets in the raceways.

A modified entrance section construction is shown in Fig. 26in which the raceway side bars 40, 4| are cutaway at their outer sides to permit the insertion therebetween of stationary bar 98 having overhanging peakedtops tfiwhich co, operate with correspondingly sloped top edge portions of the side bars to form inclined surfaces for the tablets.

The mechanism for periodically segregating a corresponding number of tablets in each raceway and discharging the batches or groups of segregated tablets substantially simultaneously from all of the raceways 43 is illustrated in Figs. 2-9. For this purpose, the base plate 30 and floor plate sections 32 have transverse rows or registering openings I00, each extending normal to the centerline of the corresponding raceway, the rows being longitudinally spaced to permit segregation of variable quantities of tablets of different diameters. The machine illustrated is adapted to segregate -50 tablets, ranging in diameter from A to i s", in each raceway, for example. A pair of longitudinally spaced cross-bars I02 and IE3 are provided below the base plate, the upper cross-bar I02 carrying a series of stop pins I04 and the lower cross-bar I03 carrying a series of stop pins I05. The pins i04 are adjustably held in holes I06 in the cross-bar I02. A pair of adjusting bolts IE?! on each cross-bar permits regulation of the maximum extent of projection of the pins through the corresponding opening into the raceways. The cross-bar I03 is normally located below the lowermost row of stop pin openings and the cross-bar I02 below the row of openings which will permit a predetermined number of tablets to be positioned in the portion of each raceway between the two rows then occupied by the stop pins I04 and I05.

The cross-bars I02 and I03 are resiliently supported by horizontal extension arms I01 projecting through vertically elongated slots I08 in the inner side of pairs of traveling carriages IE9 at opposite sides of the machine. A pair of vertical flanges IIO extend outwardly on each carriage along the sides of the slot I08. The

carriages are slideably mounted by inverted flanges III fitting into U-shaped rails II2 at opposite sides of the machine. Each cross-bar arm is resiliently supported on a spring I I3 carried on a bolt II4, which is threaded through the arm and slideably extends through a bottom flange H5 on the carriage, the spring II3 abutting the bottom flange and underside of the extension arm. When the cross-bar I02 is to be moved to a new row of stop pin openings, the operator depresses the pair of extension arms I07 against the springs II3 until the stop pins are below the base plate 30. The stop pins I04 are withdrawn from the openings by rotation of sprocket wheels IIG threaded on the lower end of the bolts H4 and connected by an endless chain M1, to abut the flange I It. The upper pair of carriages I09 are then simultaneously slid along the rails II2 to the desired row of upper openings. The shafts I22 are graduated to indicate the proper carriage position for each row of openings.

The mechanism for vertically reciprocating the stop pins I04 and I05 in the corresponding sets of openings I00 consists of oppositely arranged pairs of cams I22, each cam having bearing portions I2! rotatably mounted in the flanges I I0 of each carriage I09 at the outer sides of the bolts H4 and arranged to actuate the corresponding extension bar I07, the cam bearing portions I2I being formed with square openings through which an operating shaft I22 of square cross-section extends at each side of the machine, so that the carriages and cams are slideable on the shaft. The end portions of each shaft I22 are of circular cross-section for rotation in pillow blocks I23 on the base plate 30. The upper ends of the shafts 8 carry miter gears I24 which are arranged to mesh with oppositely arranged miter gears I25 on a transverse shaft I26.

As shown in Figs. 1, 10, 22 and 23, the drive mechanism for the tablet segregating and discharge mechanism and the kickback are mounted on a shelf I30 in the rear portion of the upper housing section and consists of a fractional horsepower high speed electric motor I3I having a belt drive through a speed reducer I32 to a horizontally arranged sectional main drive shaft I33 carried in bearings I34 mounted on the shelf. The forward end of the shaft I33 carries a miter gear I35 engaging a miter gear I36 on the transverse shaft I26 to drive the stop pin operating shafts I22. The drive shaft I33 is also connected through miter gears I3'I at a point intermediate its length to a transverse horizontal shaft I38 extending through one side of the housing. A sprocket wheel I39 is rotatably mounted on and operatively connected to the shaft I38 at the inner side of the housing through a spring pressed toothed coupling I40, as shown in Fig. 23. An endless chain I4I connects the sprocket wheel I39 to a small sprocket wheel I42 on the corresponding end of the kickback shaft 85. The shaft 36 is positioned in bearings I43 which are mounted on the frame 56 and vertically adjustable therewith so that the position of the kickback fmgers relative to the raceways will be uniform for different diameter tablets. A spring held idler sprocket I44 pivotally mounted on the inner side of the housing provides a uniform tension on the chain I4I throughout the range of vertical adjustment of the kickback shaft. With the described drive connection, the kickback shaft can be manually rotated by the handwheel on starting up to allow the raceways to fill with tablets before the motor I3I is started to drive the stop pin operating mechanism.

With the described drive mechanism, the shafts I22 rotate in opposite directions and the transversely opposite cams I20 are oppositely arranged, providing a uniform reciprocating movement of the cross-bars I02, I03 throughout their length normal to the bottom of the raceways. The pair of cams I20 on each shaft are of similar shape and angularly spaced thereon, so that when the stop pins I04 are in their lowermost or retracted position as in Fig. 6, i. e. flush with or slightly below the bottoms of the raceways, the stop pins I05 will be in their uppermost or raised position as in Fig. 7, i. e. about at the center line of the tablets, and vice versa. This degree of projection provides an effective stop for the tablets, yet avoids any tendency to rupture the same. The curved surfaces of the cams I20 are proportioned to effect a short dwell in the raised position, a gradual descending movement, a long dwell in the low position, and a rapid return of the stop pins to the raised position.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, the discharge ends of the raceways 43 are constructed to permit an individual discharge of each raceway into a single receptacle, or a dmcharge of multiple raceways into a funnel discharging into a corresponding receptacle. The discharge ends of adjacent raceways are staggered, each being formed by downwardly curved continuations of the side bars 40, 4I and top bar 55. The bottoms of the raceway discharge sections are defined by separate curved plates I41 having a flange M8 secured to the frame 3i. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower ends of all of the raceways terminate at the member mouthed funnels I52, each having an ofi-center ssamelevel immediately above the mouths of hottles I50 in a correspondingly staggered arrangement on the shelf M. Whenlarge capacity receptacles are to be filled, a multiple funnel morn discharge opening i it therein so that the .is-

charge openings of all the funnels will be in transverse alignment.

The elevation of the .upper housingsection i6 relative to the shelf I4 is set by tlie elevatlng =screws 22 for the proper location of the raceway ends or funnel openings I53 relative to the receptacles I 50. To facilitate this adjustment lwhen vthe funnel-lis used, a stop member E55 is positioned on a stair !56 mounted on the lower housing section frame l2 and extending into the up- ,per housing section. 1e staff is graduated for different size bottles and the stop 155 set at the :desired elevation. A bottle ide of the size as those to be filled is positioned on the bottom of the .upper housing section andthe elevating screws '22 adjusted until the bottle let ,contacts with the stop I55.

The lowerset of stop pins Hi have alternate pinsof each groupof five at different elevations above the raceway bottomsas shown-in Fig. *7. ,Byhaving the second and fourth raceway pins slightly shorter {than the remaining adjacent pins, it hasbeenfoundthat the segregated groups in the second andiourthiraceways will discharge sufficiently in advance 01" the other groups into a common funnel I52 that .a smooth uniform discharge of tablets will occur through the funnel discharge opening lfiii avoidinganyclogging of the tablets in the opening.

,A special mountingofithe pins iii5in the crossbar .Iilt is used to permit individual depression of each .pin M5 .for the removal of a Jorolren tab- ,let in the corresponding raceway. As-shown Figs. 7-9, the .cross-bar I833 has a recess .iiill through an opening It! in the .bottom of which the stop pm 595 projects. The ,pin has a collar W2 and a surrounding coiled spring H63 in the recess abutting the collar and recess bottom. The top of the recess is closed by a plate the through which the pins project, so that when the bar i3 is depressed by the camsthepin will becon'espondingl-y depressed. A spacing Washer 174 is inserted on the pins between the collar I52 of thesecond and fourth raceways and plate Igfig'l to decrease the elevation of the corresponding pins. A lever let pivoted on a stationary bracket its carried by the cross-liar lilil has an opening iii? therein through .uzhich the stop pin projects, with a loclrnut 5'53 on the lower threaded end of the stop pin against which the lever abuts when a Washer 169 spot welded on its free end is depressed. The lever is angularly arranged relative to the cross-bar so that the center or" the washer i iii! is in vertical alignment with the center line of the space between the side bar 453 .of the raceway and .the side har 45 of the next raceway. A hole Ill is drilled through the plates ti! and 32 in alignment with the washer Hill and the adjacent portions of the side oars cut away as shown at Ill to permit a tool .i it to he inserted by the operator to depress the lever i after the machine has been stopped. With this a "rangement only the group or" tablets including the broken tablet need be dischargedto 1175;5t3y13t1115 facilitating the removald the "crolren tabletiwith a minimum Waste of time and tablets,

, 10 The machine. illustrated is designed to handle tablets ranging in size from fl -i in diameter and to discharge the same in batches of 5,16, 15, 20, 25 or 50 tablets from each raceway, either into individual receptacles or in groups of five adjacent raceways into a common funnel and receptacle. Where the receptacles have-an individual capacity of, for example, 590 tablets, the

preferred arrangement would be tohavegroups of five raceways simultaneously discharge five batches of 25 tablets into a common funnel and receptacleand to operate the machine four cycles of operation of the raceway stop mechanism before stopping the machine to replace the then full receptacles with empties.

,In accordance with the invention, an automatic control mechanism .is provided by which the operator can set the machine to operate the drive mechanism for one to four cycles and automatically stop until manually started to repeat the operation. The control mechanism .is mounted onthe outer end of the transverseshaft E38 projecting through the housing side panel it, as shown in Figs. 18421, and comprises a plate 589 secured to the housing and carrying fourgears ilii, .132, I33, and I84 arranged .to mesh with a gear I35 mounted on the projecting of the shaft I38. I have discovered that if the gears I635 and I ill haveapitch diameter of .75" and 18 teeth of No. Z lpitch, the gear I82 with a pitch diameter of 1.5" and 36 teeth, the

gear I33 with a pitch diameter of 2.25".and 54 teeth, and the gear 84 with a ,pitch diameter, of S" and '72 teeth, the gears IBI, I32, .I83.and I84 will simultaneously mesh withithe gear I85 While maintaining sufficient clearance topermit their rotation, as shownin Fighle. .Eachof thegears I8 l-lc l carries on its outer .face a small contact bar Hit adjacent its periphery. Each bar has a center section of uniform thickness and inclined end portions, vA microswitch mechanism 583 having a spring-pressed reciprocable switch member 189 is mounted on a rotatable bracket We carried by a shaft I9I. The shaft I9l is rotatably mounted in a frontplate I92 and moved by a lever 1% having a handle I9 adapted to be held in the positions indicated by the numerals 1, 2, and 4 (Fig. '20) by a spring-pressed pin Hi5 fitting into recesses 15% in the plate I92 at the locations indicated by the numerals. When,

for example, the handle is in position lythe-switch member I59 will be in position to ride on the contact bar its on the gear IB'I. The switch its is normally closed and on being pushed inwardly by riding up on the contact bar It'd opens to break the circuit of the motor ltl and end th operating cycle. When the handle is set in any of the other operating positions, the gear will make a corresponding number of revolutions between successive actuations of the switch member I39 by the corresponding contactbar 186.

As diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 22,the motor and vibrator circuits are initially closed to start each operating cycle by the operator depressing a foot pedal I91 to close a normally open microswitch L98. The microswitch I98 is kept closed until the gears ISI-IS I in contact with the microswitch 89 are rotated sufficiently to move the switch 589 on" the corresponding contact bar E allowing the switch I89 to return to its normally closed position until again contacted by the bar 1%. A manual switch 99 In Fig. 27, I have shown a special raceway construction for running high crowned tablets. For this purpose inverted U-shaped jackets 202 having outwardly curved inner sides 203 are clipped on the raceway side bars 40, 4!, the curvature of the portions 203 corresponding to the crown of the tablets.

As indicated in Fig. 4, when the tablets are in the raceway construction described, the side bars 40, 4| are of sufiicient height so that the tabletsare relatively invisible to the operator. When greater tablet visibility is desired, the machine is provided with the raceway construction illustrated in Fig. 25 in which the side bars 40 41 are much lower in height and formed with in clined inside surfaces. The top bar 55 in this modified arrangement has a recessed bottom surface 20! of trapezoidal cross-section into which the tablets loosely fit. The side bars and top bar thus cooperate to form raceways open at their sides, permitting the inspection of the tablet rows and the removal of any broken tablets which may reach the raceways.

With the described construction, a single machine will have a handling capacity of 400,000-- 600,000 tablets per hour depending upon the size of the tablets handled. All of the raceway parts in contact with the tablets are of stainless steel or chromium'plated construction, avoiding contamination of the tablets. A high capacity sanitarv filling operation is thus affected.-

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described herein the best form of the invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by claims, and that certain features of the invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features. While the machine has been specifically described and is especially useful for handling articles of circular cross-section, it can also be used for other freely movable articles, such as capsules, which will slide down the raceways, for example.

This application is a continuation-in-part of 7 my said prior application, Serial No. 647,883, filed February 15, 1946, now Patent No. 2,617,517, of Nov. 11, 1952.

I claim:

1. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means arranged to form a series of inclined side-by-side raceways on said floor, means for supplying a row of articles to each of said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of stop 7 pins arranged for reciprocation in said upper and lower rows of floor openings respectively, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper and lower rows of stop pins to periodically segregate and. discharge a predetermined number of articles from all of said raceways substantially simultaneously, control means for automatically stopping said stop pin raising and lowering means after a variable number of complete operating cycles, and means for manually setting the number of operating cycles to be completed' 2. .An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means arranged to form a series of inclined side-by-side raceways on said floor, means for supplying a row of articles to each of said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of stop pins arranged for reciprocation in said upper and lower rows of floor openings respectively, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper and lower rows of stop pins to periodically segregate and discharge a predetermined number of articles from all of said raceways substantially simultaneously, and motor control means for automatically stopping said stop pin raising and lowering means after one or more operating cycles comprising a gear arranged to complete one rotation for each operating cycle, a series of driven gears engaging and having predetermined whole number gear tooth ratios to said first named gear, a switch actuating member on' each of said driven gears, and a switch member movable into the path of movement of each of said switch actuating members.

3. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means arranged to form a series of inclined side-by-side raceways on said floor, upper and lower transverse rows of floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of stop pins arranged for reciprocation in said upper and lower rows of floor openings respectively, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper and lower rows of stop pins to periodically segregate and discharge a predetermined number of articles from all of said raceways substantially simultaneously, and means for separately depressing individual lower stop pins below said floor level.

4. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means arranged to form series of inclined side-by-side raceways on said floor, upper and lower transverse rows of floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of stop pins arranged for reciprocation in said upper and lower rows of floor openings respectively normal to the'angle of inclination of said raceways be-' 7 tween elevations above and below said floor, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper and lower rows of stop pins to periodically segregate and discharge a predetermined number of articles from all of said raceways substantially simultaneously, and adjusting screw means arranged to simultaneously withdraw all of said upper stop pins from saidfloor openings.

5. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel raceway-forming bars arranged along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of mow able articles, a frame carrying a series of parallel bars forming the tops of said raceways, frame elevating means at symmetrically spaced points on said floor, and means for simultanee ously operating all of said frame elevating means.

6. An' article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel racewayforming bars arranged along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of mov able articles, a rectangular frame carrying a series of parallel bars forming the tops of said raceways, means for varying the elevation of said frame and top bars comprising shafts at symmetrically spaced points on said fioor and having a threaded connection with said frame, and means for simultaneously rotating said shafts comprising a sprocket on each shaft, and an endless chain connecting said sprockets.

'7. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel racewayforming bars arranged along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of means for initiating the discharge from movable articles, a rectangular frame carrying a series of parallel bars forming tops of said raceways, means for varying the elevation of said frame and top bars comprising shaits symmetrically spaced points on said floor and having a threaded connection said frame, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts comprising a sprocket on each and an endless chain connecti; said sprockets, and means for indicating degree of chain movement for a predetermined elevation.

8. An article handling machine conipris 1g forming bars of relatively low ZIBi MiH n in pairs along said floor to form inciined r 10w raceways therebetween for rows of freermovable articles of circular cross-sect. "n, and series of parallel bars forming the tops of said raceways and having shallow recersed unde sides arranged to receive therein the edge por- 20 tion of said articles, whereby a major portion of said articles is exposed in the spacehetr. all said racewaydorniing and top bar.

9. An article handling machine comprising lower housing section havinga receptacle ho ing shelf at one end, an housing sectio having a series of inclined raceways fixer there on for rows of freely movable articles and haw ing fixed article discharge ends ten above said shelf, and elevating means i justing the elevation of: said entire upper how ing section to vary the elevation of racc- Way discharge ends relative to shelf.

10. An article handling machine com rising a lower housing section. having a re tacl holding shelf at one end, upper housing 5 c 'tion having a series of inclined raoeways there on for rows of freely movable articles and terminating above said shelf, a funnel member on said upper housing section arranged to receive the articles discharged from raceways, elevating means for adjusting the elevation or said upper housing section relative to said shelf, and a receptacle height gauge mounted on said lower housing section and. carrying an adjustable stop arranged to be contacted by a sample receptacle on said upper housing section when said upper housing section is at the desired elevation.

11. An article handling machine comprising means arranged to form a series of parallel inclined raceways for rows of freely movable ticles, said raceways having alternate laterally staggered discharge ends, a funnel m ber comprising a laterally staggered series means arranged to form a series of ticle's, said raceways havingalternate later staggered discharge funnel me er comprising a laterally staggered series o nels, each arranged to receive the articles 0 charged from a group of said raceways,

verse rows of floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of stop pins arranged for reciprocation in said upper and lower rows of floor openings respectively between elevations above and below said floor, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper and lower rows of stop pins to periodically segregate and discharge a predetermined number of articles from all of said raceways substantially simultaneously, a funnel arranged to receive the discharge from a group of said raceways, and the lower stop pin for one raceway of said group being arranged to project above said floor level at a lesser elevation in its raised position than the lower stop pin of an adjacent raceway of said group.

it. ticle handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means arranged to format series of nclined side-by-side raceways on said door, in is for supplying a Low of articles to each of said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows of floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceways, upper and lower transverse rows or stop pins for reciprocation in said upper and iower rows oi cor openings respectively normal to the angle or inclination of said raceways 'between elevations above and below said floor, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper a d lower rows of stop him to periodically 5 1i a predetermined number of articles in all or" said raceways substantially simuit eously, a funnel arranged to receive the discharge from group of said race'ways, and the lower stop pins for alternate raceways of said group being arranged to project above said floor level at a lesser elevation in their raisedposh tions than the remaining lower stop pins of said group of raceways.

15. An article handling machine comprising an i clined floor, a series of parallel raceway-forming arranged in pairs alon said floor to form inclined racewavs therebetween for rows of movable articles, pair of parallel transverse adjusting bars secured to one of the raceway-forming bars of each pair, a second pair of parallel transverse adjusting bars secured to the other raceway-forming bar of each pair, and means 'for transversely moving said adjusting bars in opposite directions to vary the Width of said raceways comprising meshed internally threaded gears on threaded end portions of each pair of said adjusting bar and means for rotating said gears to eiTect endwise movement of saidadjusting bars.

I6. An handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel racewayforming bars arranged in pairs along said fioor to form inclined. raceways therebetwe-en for rows of movable articles, a pair of parallel transverse bars of each pair, a second pair of parallel transverse adjusting bars secured to the other raceway-forming bar of each pair, means sversely moving said adjusting bars in to vary the width of said raceeally threaded of each pair er for rotating said set endwise movement of adgee rs 0'. said a justi g hers, and cooperating width. gauge parts on threaded ends pair of adjusting bars to hold a sa pie article.

idling machine com-prising led floor, series of parallel racewayhars arranged in pairs along said 1100; to form inclined 'raceways therebetween for rows of movable articles, and pairs of hinged plates hingedly connected to the upper end portions of the adjacent raceway bars of adjacent raceways and arranged in peaked formations to facilitate the positioning of articles in the adjacent raceways.

18. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel racewayforming bars arranged in pairs along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of movable articles, pairs of hinged plates hingedly connected to the upper end portions of the adjacent raceway bars of adjacent raceways and arranged in peaked formations to facilitate the positioning of articles in the adjacent raceways, and means for varying the width of said raceways.

19. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel racewayforming bars arranged in pairs along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of movable articles, a pair of parallel transverse adjusting bars secured to one of the racewayforming bars of each pair, a second pair of parallel transverse adjusting bars secured to the other raceway-forming bar of each pair, pairs of hinged plates hingedly connected to the upper 7 end portions of the adjacent raceway bars of adjacent raceways and arranged in peaked formations to facilitate the positioning of articles in the adjacent raceways, and means for transversely moving said adjusting bars in opposite directions to vary the width of said raceways throughout their length.

20. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel raceway-forming bars arranged in pairs along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of relatively thin freely movable articles of circular cross-section, means forming an upwardly flared section at the upper ends of said raceways arranged to facilitate the positioning of said articles in an upright rolling edge position, and a kickback extending transversely of the upwardly flared section of said raceways and having radial fingers thereon arranged above and out of alignment with the centerline of corresponding race- WaYS 21. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel racewayforming bars arranged in pairs along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of relatively thin freely movable articles of circular cross-section, means on the upper end portions of the adjacent raceway bars of adjacent raceways arranged in peaked formations to facilitate the positioning of articlesin an upright rolling edge position in the adjacent raceways, and a kickback extending transversely of the peaked formation section of said raceways and having radial fingers thereon arranged above and out of alignment with the centerline of correspond- 16 site directions to vary the width of said raceways throughout their length, and a, kickback extending transversely of the peaked formation section of said raceways and having radial fingers thereon arranged above and out of alignment with the centerline of corresponding raceways.

23. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means on said floor arranged to form inclined raceways for rows of relatively thin freely movable articles of circular cross section, means along the upper end portions of said raceways arranged to form upwardly ilared extensions thereof'to facilitate the positioning of articles in an upright rolling edge position in the adjacent raceways, and a kickback comprising a shaft extending transversely of the flared section of said raceways and having radial fingers carried thereon extending into said flared sections and out of vertical alignment with the centerline of corresponding raceways, said radial fingers being formed of coil spring-reinforced rubber tubing. 7

24. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, a series of parallel racewayforming bars arranged in pairs along said floor to form inclined raceways therebetween for rows of relatively thin freely movable articles of circular cross-section, means on the upper end portions of the adjacent raceway bars of adjacent raceways and arranged in peaked formations to facilitate the positioning of articles in an upright rolling edge position in the adjacent race- Ways, and a kickback comprising a shaft extending transversely of the peaked formation section of said raceways and having radial fingers carried thereon extending between said peaked formations and out of vertical alignment with the centerline of corresponding raceways, and a rotary brush at each end of said kickback shaft positioned adjacent the corresponding outermcst raceway.

25. An article handling machine comprising a series of parallel inclined raceways for rows of movable articles, means for periodically segregating and subsequently discharging a predetermined number of said articles from all of said raceways comprising operating shafts at opposite sides of said machine, a kickback for controlling the arrangement of articles entering said raceways comprising a shaft extending transversely of said raceways, and means for simultaneously driving said operating and kickback shafts.

26. An article handling machine comprising a series of parallel inclined raceways for rows of movable articles, means forperiodically segregating and subsequently discharging a predetermined number of said articles from all of said raceways comprising operating shafts at opposite sides of said machine, a kickback for controlling the arrangement of articles entering said race- Ways comprising a Shaft extending transversely of said raceways, and means for driving said op.- crating and kickback shafts including a spring coupling arranged to permit manual rotation of said kickback shaft.

27, An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means arranged to formian inclined raceway on said fioor, means for supply ing a row of articles to saidrraceway, upper and lower floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceway, upper and lower stop pins arranged for reciprocation in said upper and lower floor openings respectively between different elevations relative to said floor, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper and lower stop pins to periodically segregate and discharge a predetermined number of articles from said raceway, and control means for automatically stopping said stop pin raising and lowering means after a predetermined number of operating cycles comprising a series of rotary members having different rates of rotation relative to the operating cycle of said stop pin raising and lowering means, a switch actuating member on each of said rotary members, and a switch member movable into the path of movement of each of said switch actuating members.

28. An article handling machine comprising an inclined floor, means arranged to form an inclined raceway on said floor, means for supplying a row of articles to said raceway, upper and lower transverse floor openings spaced longitudinally in said raceway, upper and lower stop pins arranged for reciprocation in said upper and lower floor openings respectively normal to the angle of inclination of said raceways between elevations above and below said floor, means for alternately raising and lowering said upper and lower stop pins to periodically segregate and discharge a predetermined number of articles from said raceway, and control means for automatically stopping and said stop pin raising and lowering means after a predetermined number of operating cycles comprising a gear arranged to complete one rotation for each operating cycle,

a series of driven gears engaging and having predetermined whole number tooth ratios to said first named gear, a switch actuating member adjacent the periphery of each of said driven gears, and a manually movable switch member movable into the path of movement of any one of said switch actuating members.

GEORGE H. DANIELS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 369,159 Burns Aug. 30, 1887 434,011 Wrigley Aug. 12, 1890 489,140 Bernstrom Jan. 3, 1893 812,221 Magnan Feb. 13, 1906 1,395,727 Odermatt Nov. 1, 1921 1,567,725 Freese Dec. 29, 1925 1,647,356 Hendry Nov. 1, 1927 1,684,600 Schaf Sept. 18, 1928 1,697,220 Anstiss Jan. 1, 1929 1,846,313 Constable Feb. 23, 1932 2,269,937 Hart Jan. 13, 1942 2,509,069 Mrachek May 23, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 662,565 France .Apr. 8, 1929 

